Women in the countryside 1931

August Babberger’s 'Women in the Countryside' is a painted vision rendered with muted tones. Look at how Babberger applies colour. These flat colours act like building blocks, one next to the other. The paint is thin and translucent, and the textures are smooth, almost serene, contributing to a feeling of calm. The women’s faces are striking in their simplicity, outlined with a delicate hand. It feels like a kind of quiet statement. See the column of tulip-like shapes to the left. These forms feel playful, and almost like an afterthought. This piece feels to me like Marsden Hartley. Both artists were interested in simple, bold forms, and the power of colour, each creating a really distinctive visual language. Isn’t it amazing how artists, even across time, can be in conversation with each other through their work?